Activation of caspase-3 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase signaling pathways involving heroin-induced neuronal apoptosis

Toxic effects of xylazine on endothelial cells in combination with cocaine and 6-monoacetylmorphine

“…Furthermore results obtained from cells treated with heroin concur with previous studies reporting apoptosis induction in different rat tissues, such as primary cultured cerebellar granule cells (CGC) [36], hepatocytes [37] and neuronal cells [38]. Moreover it is important to point out that heroin, has another metabolite in addition to 6-MAM, which is the active metabolite, morphine, responsible for the pharmacological effects in humans.…”

Evaluation of Oxidative Markers, Apoptosis and Reproductive Efficiency in Heroin Addicted Rats

“…The mean percent apoptotic hepatocytes in low dose of heroin was (3.5%), while it was (4.2%) in high dose of heroin as compared to control group (1.4%). Several researches have been performed on the induction of cell death in CNS neurons (44)(45)(46) ,but still little is known about the action of narcotic drugs on hepatocytes in vivo. (47) showed that street heroin induces cell death by a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, initiated by caspases 2 and 9, and involving cytochrome c release, loss of mitochondrial potential and down-regulation of Bcl-2.…”

Heroin Activates ATF3 and CytC via c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Pathways to Mediate Neuronal Apoptosis

“…The present study showed that the JNK pathway is involved in the apoptosis process. It also indicated that the JNK/c-Jun pathway cascade was activated and amplified, leading to heroin-induced neuron apoptosis [ 14 , 27 ]. The rates of cell apoptosis were described by flow cytometry.…”

“…Cerebellar granule cells were isolated as described above [ 14 ]: CGCs were derived from 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups. Neurons were dissociated from freshly dissected cerebella by mechanical disruption in the presence of 0.125% trypsin and DNaseI (100 ul/ml) and then seeded at a density of 4×10 6 cells/ml in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium/nutrient mixture F-12 ham’s containing 10% fetal bovine serum and Arc-C (sigma) at concentrations to inhibit glial cell growth inoculated into 6-well plates and a small dish.…”

“…The intrinsic apoptosis pathway begins when an injury occurs within the cell and is determined by interactions between 3 factions of the Bcl-2 protein family [ 12 ]. Studies indicate that JNK is an important mediator of the neurotoxic effects of heroin; therefore, we believe that inhibiting JNK activity may prevent cell apoptosis [ 13 , 14 ]. Cytc, a water-soluble protein locate in the mitochondrial outer membrane lacuna, plays a vital role in the process of cell apoptosis ] 19 ].…”